The spread of MRSA, which is known to kill at least 5,000 annually in the UK, has emerged as a significant threat to hospital hygiene in recent years as infectious organisms have developed resistance to antibiotics.

A report by the National Audit Office warned 100,000 people a year in the UK become infected with MRSA.

The Health Protection Agency was shocked by the claims made by researchers from RGH. A spokeswoman said, "We do know that the MRSA organism lives happily on people most of the time and we carry organisms both on and inside our bodies."

A spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing said, "It's not surprising when you think how many people and how many times hospital notes are handled."